Chad Kruger is the Assistant Director for Agriculture, Extension, and Outreach for INEF. Kruger has a graduate degree in Land Resources and has worked for WSU for 22 years, currently working with INEF and is the director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture & Natural Resources within the University.
Some of the keywords to describe Kruger’s work with INEF include: “Agrivoltaics, Farm Electrification, Biofuels, Food – Energy – Water Nexus, AgSymbiosis, and Sustainable Aviation Fuels.”
“As we move into the future, we need to take a new look at the opportunities for agriculture and food to innovate and integrate new technologies for energy use and production that will keep our farms and ranches competitive globally,” Kruger said.
Kruger is collaborating with WSU tree fruit experts to develop a plan for agrivoltaic integration into the production of apples in Washington, and highlights the close connection between energy and food.
“Food is fundamentally energy. It’s what powers us, and we need to continue finding energy solutions for ag and food,” Kruger said.
The systems approach that INEF takes is beneficial when connecting food to energy.
“The solutions for the future energy challenges in agriculture and food are systems level challenges. The simple solutions are all taken, and future solutions will require optimization with other sectors and technology providers,” Kruger said.
Outside of work, Kruger enjoys raising horses and cows on his family ranch.